Month: June 2021

VALID project is taking us to Larissa – Greece! Among the 11 participants that virtually gathered together on June 9, 2021, there were members of the Municipality of Larissa;; various other cultural entities such as NGOs, museums and associations. As many already knows, the VALID project – Enacting Common Values of Solidarity and Intercultural Dialogue – is designed to reinforce the integration of intercultural and social perspectives into a wide range of public policies. Hence, within this context the above-mentioned meeting has to be understood

This meeting was hosted in order for participants to present their organisations and activities, while showing them the  details and specifics of “VALID” project. More into depth, several presentations, various activities, and ideas-sharing were among the different tolls used in order to present the project. After that, attendees discussed the “Mill of Pappas” Culture Hub; and, at the same time, they also explored possible mutual collaborative activities and partnerships after September of 2021.

Unfortunately, due to Covid-19 restrictions, according to which no more than 7 people were allowed in the municipal hall, the meeting was held online in order to allow anyone to join the event. Despite that, this meeting served as a good cultural exchange experience for those involved, while paving the way for future meetings and moments of share.

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The event was co-funded by the Europe for Citizens Programme of the European Union

On June 15th at the General Assembly of the French Network of the Anna Lindh Foundation in Marseille, ALDA and Les Têtes de l’Art were confirmed as co-heads of the network, following the election that took place in the previous days.

For the next two years, our two organisations will animate a network of more than 150 French member associations working on intercultural dialogue and related topics. Bringing together our expertise, we will support the development of the members by organising training sessions and activities ranging from exchanges, workshops and advocacy campaigns. ALDA, based in Strasbourg, will contribute with its experience in EU project development and management, as well as coordinating activities aimed to enhance citizens participation, good governance and local democracy. Les Têtes de l’Art, based in Marseille, has developed a strong knowledge of participatory arts practices, informal education, social and solidarity-based economy as well as youth participation and the use of media. ALDA and Les Têtes de l’Art have been collaborating in the last 2 years in various activities promoted by the French Network, previously led by Forum Femmes Méditerranée.

With this mandate, ALDA and Les Têtes de l’Art will join the other 41 Heads of National Networks of the Anna Lindh foundation (list available here), favouring international exchange and reinforcing the dialogue both with Anna Lindh Foundation and the European Union as the main donor of the Foundation.

Reflecting fully the Euro-Mediterranean dimension and the great potential of the French Network, we are both extremely motivated to accept this mandate and the stimulating challenge of reinforcing intercultural dialogue at the local, national and international level.

ALDA looks for this great collaboration, and it is motivated to work closely together for the best of this initiatives.

As part of its main objectives, the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE) seeks to strengthen the link between citizens and the European Union by giving them a voice in shaping the policies and ambitions of the European Union and improving the Union’s resilience to crises. 

Having that in mind, the week of the ALDA General Assembly 2021 has been designed to both serve as an occasion for its members to meet themselves, and to gather many key stakeholders including individuals, CSOs, Local Governments and Associations for a series of online and offline events to discuss some specific topics which are related to the overall European context.  For example, ALDA members had the possibility to join different events online and/or in presence, such as the two conferences on LIME and DIGITAL projects. Besides, they also joined the General Assembly itself at the end of week.

On June 25th, ALDA General Assembly took place online with the opening speeches of  Mr Oriano Otočan, President of ALDA and Mr Leen Verbeek, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, and it was then chaired by Alessandro Distante, President of ISBE, an historical member of ALDA. Despite the distance, the great atmosphere among participants was tangible; thus, to underline how this event is an essential part of ALDA. As previous years, also the 2021 General Assembly has been very much participated, especially considering the fact that this is the first Assembly of the newly elected Governing Board. 

The General Assembly focused on several key aspects, paving the path for the future actions and activities of the association. Besides the analysis of technical documents, during the meeting some key aspects were discussed: ALDA Activity Report and account for 2020 as well as the promising Program and budget for 2021, Local Democracy Agencies’ report (LDAs); SDGs report and the role of ALDA within the Conference on the Future of Europe. The former, once again, was the occasion to stress how relevant and important is the role of LDAs as local agencies to foster citizens’ participation and engagement. The second topic on the agenda highlighted how much the work of ALDA is thus related to the global scale, such as the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Finally, considering the overall mission of ALDA, as an association that fosters the creation of a democratic space and citizens’ engagement; the General Assembly 2021 contributed to increase people participation, members gathering; while bringing issues discussed at local level to the European one.

Last but not least, for those interested, ALDA events are also available on the CoFoE platform.

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Read more about the General Assembly Week:

Programme of the GA Week

“BUK Festival” in Modena

Launch of the Working Groups

Governing Board meeting

LIME Project – conference 

DIGITAL Project – conference

The 15 members of ALDA Governing Board, including our President, Mr Oriano Otočan, gathered for their annual meeting on the eve of the ALDA General Assembly, in the afternoon of Thursday June 24^th.

As often, this period of the year is the occasion to make the point on ALDA’s activities and to disclose and discuss key documents for the democratic life of the Association, passing towards the review and approval of the Governing Board.

The members of the Governing Board had then the opportunity and duty to discuss about core documents such as ALDA and ALDA+ accounts for 2020 and budget and program for 2021, which have been approved unanimously by all participants. Indeed, despite the challenging year that we leave behind us, the Association’s balance sheet showed an overall positive and promising situation.

Following all the Governing Board members started planning the preparation of the ALDA General Assembly with a series of crucial decisions for the smooth progress of the Assembly, being the core event of the whole week.

All of them, along with the ALDA secretariat went through the documents and decisions to be discussed with our members on the following day, assuring a clear and detailed presentation of ALDA’s activities, going also through the internal reports drafted by the President, the Treasurer, and the Auditor of ALDA. Thereafter, the Governing Board members had the chance to enjoy the preview of both ALDA’s and the LDA’s Activity Reports.

The third and last part of the meeting was more centred on strategical and political issues, with the approval of the revised strategies for ALDA Going Global, general updates on the Local Democracy Agencies, on the members and on the upcoming events involving the Association.

Key decisions and discussion which paved the way to the awaited ALDA Ordinary General Assembly!

With the occasion of 700^th anniversary of the death of the epic poet Dante, within VALID project a meeting has been organised, in this Italian city of Ravenna, on June the 14^th of 2021, were the poet is now resting in peace. During the event, the deputy councilor for Culture and representatives of Teatro delle Albe were invited. They were also joined by the citizens who attended the “CHIAMATA PUBBLICA” (Public call) initiatives of 2017 and 2019, to turn the words of the poet into arts, specifically as far as the “Hell” and “Purgatory “respectively concerns.

15 participants took part in various activities involving brainstorming and ideas-sharing. Specifically, two questions were given be they: “based on your personal experience which were the strengths for inclusion and dialogue?” and “please give some ideas and suggestions for the up-coming future”. Participants were also engaged with the creation of word clouds on different topics such as: connection between theatre and inclusion.

People of various ages participating at the meeting, had the opportunity to both learn about the cultural contributions of the municipality; and to increase the feeling of belonging to a community, no matter the background. Dante’s work as a tool to stimulate dialogue and sharing among citizens and participants.

A third international meeting is scheduled for next September, also in Ravenna, and it will bring in artists and citizens involved with the project partners, all in order to further promote the culture of the municipality and the community.

ALDA is very much glad to travel around the cities of VALID, in fostering dialogue and social inclusion.